15th Kym Sellers Foundation’s gala to honor Arnold Pinkney

Kym Sellers during her Quiet Storm radio show at WZAK 93.1 in Cleveland, Ohio
Photo by James W. Wade III

The 15th Annual Kym Sellers Foundation Benefit Gala for Multiple Sclerosis will be held on Sat, Aug. 23, at Executive Caterers of Landerhaven.

During this year’s gala, the foundation will present a tribute to the late Arnold R. Pinkney. Comedian and Auctioneer Rob Telecky will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Live entertainment will be provided by The Benjaminz.

Over the years, Sellers and her foundation has worked hard to provide education about Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sellers was diagnosed with MS and, in 2000, decided to share her personal experiences about this mysterious disease. From there, she created an organization with a purpose dedicated solely to individuals in the Greater Cleveland and Akron areas, including their families and friends, who are affected by MS.

Participation is open to all individuals who are affected by MS, regardless of race, religion, national origin, or socio-economic status. The mission of The KSF is to provide outreach, awareness and education to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and their families, in order for them to have a meaningful effect and significant impact on their quality of life.

Since February, Sellers has been receiving stem cell treatments and is the first person in Ohio to undergo this procedure, which extracts millions of stem cells from body fat then deploys them back into the body through an IV.

The outpatient procedure was performed at the Ohio Stem Cell Treatment Center in Beachwood by a team of surgeons including the center’s founders Dr. Mark Foglietti and Dr. Michael Kellis. In an interview with the Call & Post, Sellers shared her results.

“I have noticed improvements in my breathing, pain levels, edema and mobility. I can tell my body is trying to fight the disease,” she said.

Sellers hosts a radio program that airs weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight called the Quiet Storm. She also served as a columnist for the Cleveland Life magazine as well as a freelance reporter for WKYC TV3 and WEWS TV5. She has also appeared on Fox 8 News as an American Idol analyst. Amazingly enough, she is the mother of four beautiful girls, a community leader, the president of The Kym Sellers Foundation, a member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and now belongs to the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.

“I am not out on the floor dancing yet, but I am making baby steps with my treatment and I really feel good about my progress,” said Sellers.

The gala is the foundation’s annual major fundraiser. Sellers became teary eyed when she started talking about how much Pinkney helped her foundation over the years.

“Arnold taught me never to give up and continue to be humble with my everyday life. I have missed his guidance and his support since his passing,” she said.

Every year, Sellers starts the morning out with an educational seminar. This free educational seminar is available to Multiple Sclerosis patients, their families, friends and the community. This year it will be held at Executive Caterers of Landerhaven from 9 a.m. to noon.

This fair features a number of doctors and people of the medical field. It is another way Sellers educate individuals about MS. This year, at the gala, Sellers and the Foundation will be raffling off a brand new Mercedes Benz.

Sellers wanted to share with everyone that she is doing real good from the stem treatments and knows there will be other attempts to find solutions for MS in the future. “There are for example diverse epidemiological studies concerning MS, that open many other points of view,” said Sellers.

“We want everyone to come out and enjoy this year’s gala and enjoy great fun, food and learn about MS,” said Dr. Daisy Alford Smith, Sellers mother.